Research and Course Guides: English: Biographies

Literary & specialized biography sources

Literature Online This link opens in a new window
English and American poetry, drama, and prose plus 240+ full-text literature journals, other criticism, and reference resources
Literary Reference Source (previously Literary Reference Center) This link opens in a new window
covers authors from a range of time periods & countries
Literature Resource Center (Gale) This link opens in a new window
authors from every age & discipline; covers many vols. of the highly respected Dictionary of Literary Biography
Bloom's Literature This link opens in a new window
essays on well-known writers, works, & influential movements and events in world literature plus bios, character entries, and videos
Dictionary of Literary Biography (Gale) This link opens in a new window
biographical and critical essays on the lives, works, and careers of the world's most influential literary figures from all eras and genres (vol. 373 and newer) Note: Earlier vols. are in print @ PN 451 .D52
Something About the Author (Gale) This link opens in a new window
illustrated biographical profiles of approximately 75 children's authors and artists, v.254-
[Note: v.1-253 (1971-2013) are in print @ PN 451 .S6]
American National Biography Online This link opens in a new window
portraits of more than 19,000 men and women whose lives have shaped the nation
Limit: 1 user at a time
Dictionary of National Biography This link opens in a new window
national record of men and women worldwide who have shaped British history and culture, from the Romans to the 21st century
Limit: 1 user at a time
Oxford African American Studies Center This link opens in a new window
biographies, topical entries, primary source documents with commentary, images, maps, charts, tables, and more
Who's Who in the Classical World This link opens in a new window
Oxford dictionary of ancient biography, covering Greek & Roman history, politics, literature, philosophy, science, & art

General biography sources

Biography in Context (Gale) This link opens in a new window
biographical information integrating reference materials, periodical articles, and multimedia content
Biography Index Past and Present This link opens in a new window
more than a million article and book citations back to 1946; a comprehensive biographical resource on newsmakers of their times
Biography Reference Bank This link opens in a new window
biographical profiles plus articles, images, interviews, essays, book reviews, performance reviews, speeches, and obituaries
Current Biography Illustrated This link opens in a new window
profiles and images of celebrities, politicians, entrepreneurs, artists, and others; content from the monthly magazine Current Biography